Long appeals to state Republican officials

Baldwin County Board of Education candidate Margaret Long has asked the state Republican Party to call a complete revote of school board District 5.

Today, Long filed a formal appeal of a local party officials' decision to hold a revote in three disputed precincts -- Elberta, Magnolia Springs and Foley. Long said she believes the three-precinct vote is likely illegal.

Everybody needs to have the right to vote, and everybody needs to know they got the right ballot," Long said.

Challenger Angie Swiger defeated Long, the incumbent, by 67 votes, according to vote totals certified by the local Republican Party Chairman Don McGriff, but Long contested that. Last week, a local party committee decided to hold a revote in the three precincts after evidence surfaced that voters at those sites received the wrong ballot during the June 3 Republican primary.